Was Julianne Hough’s Blackface Halloween Costume Racist?

Was Julianne Hough’s blackface Halloween costume racist? A lot of fans seem to think so. TheDancing With the Stars champion shocked and angered fans when photos of a blackface Orange is the New Black costume surfaced. Hough went as “Crazy Eyes” (a.k.a. Suzanne) this year, appearing in blackface by darkening the skin on her face and neck.

Taking to her Twitter page, Hough offered an apology yesterday. “I am a huge fan of the show Orange is the New Black, actress Uzo Aduba, and the character she has created,” she tweeted. “It certainly was never my intention to be disrespectful or demeaning to anyone in any way. I realize my costume hurt and offended people and I truly apologize.”

Of course, Hough isn’t the only celebrity to don an offensive costume. Last year, Chris Brown angered fans by dressing up as a Middle Eastern terrorist. At non-Halloween costume parties, both Prince Harry and Jesse James separately sparked controversy by dressing up as Nazis. Former teen idol Aaron Carter also made headlines a decade ago when he dressed up as a teenage pimp.

Hough made headlines earlier this month when the former Dancing With the Stars champion returned as a guest judge on the show and bashed her former dancing partner, Mark Ballas. When she had to critique his performance with pop singer Christina Milian, she told Milian: “You have to stand in front (of Mark) to make sure you’re seen.” Ballas slammed the comment afterwards and accused Hough of being “hypocritical.”